Coral reef ecology (from gastropods to corals to fishes).
Spatial-, size-, and stage-structured interactions, population dynamics and community patterns.
The roles of density-dependence, habitat quality, predation, competition, and resource limitation in aquatic ecosystems.
The application of meta-analysis in ecology (e.g., quantification of effect size (and interaction strength) and its variation among organisms and environments).
The design and implementation of whole ecosystem experiments and environmental assessment studies.
The application of ecological theory to the design of marine reserves and fisheries management strategies.